Martinez encouraged about rural infrastructure investments

February 13, 2018

President Donald Trump, right, as New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, during a meeting with state and local officials about infrastructure. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The two-term Republican governor was among other leaders from around the nation who met Monday with President Donald Trump.

Trump’s plan is centered on using $200 billion in federal money to leverage more than $1 trillion in local and state tax dollars for new investments and repairs of crumbling roads and airports. It also calls for a streamlined permitting process to get projects going.

During her recent state of the state address, Martinez said investing more in large-scale projects that create jobs and working with partners in Mexico to build a modern manufacturing and transportation hub along the border would be important steps for the state’s economic growth.